System and method for selecting paint compositions per layer based on substrate conditions

Abstract

Expert system and method for computing an application procedure for painting vinyl panels a target color at a paint application site while preventing vinyl warping. A target reflectivity indicator is computed for the vinyl panels once painted. When the target color and target reflectivity indicator are met by application of the multiple paint layers, the application procedure computed identifies a pigmentable waterborne paint composition, one or more proportioned paint pigments to achieve the target color at a predictable transmissivity and a preparatory waterborne paint composition considering a corresponding predictable reflectivity. Applying the pigmentable waterborne paint composition, once pigmented with the one or more proportioned paint pigments, over the preparatory waterborne paint composition meets the target reflectivity indicator for the vinyl panels at the target color. Instructions are then sent to a remote device comprising the application procedure for painting the vinyl panels at the target color while preventing vinyl warping.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An expert system for computing an application procedure for painting vinyl panels a target color at a paint application site while preventing vinyl warping, the system comprising:
 a non-transitory memory; 
 a processing module comprising one or more processors; 
 a network interface module comprising one or more physical network interface; 
 a first set of software instructions, stored in the non-transitory memory, the first set of software instructions, when executed by the processing module, obtain a thickness indicator of the vinyl panels to be painted at the paint application site considering a request received, for the application procedure at the application site, through the network interface module from a remote device; 
 a second set of software instructions, stored in the non-transitory memory, the second set of software instructions, when executed by the processing module, compute, based on the thickness indicator and the target color for the vinyl panels, a target reflectivity indicator for the vinyl panels once painted for preventing vinyl warping; 
 a third set of software instructions, stored in the non-transitory memory, the third set of software instructions, when executed by the processing module, determine that the target reflectivity indicator for the vinyl panels once painted the target color is met by application of multiple paint layers of different paint compositions; and 
 a fourth set of software instructions, stored in the non-transitory memory, the fourth set of software instructions, when executed by the processing module upon determination that the target reflectivity indicator at the target color is met by application of the multiple paint layers:
 compute the application procedure that identifies:
 a pigmentable waterborne paint composition;—one or more proportioned paint pigments to achieve the target color at a corresponding predictable transmissivity; and—a preparatory waterborne paint composition considering a corresponding predictable reflectivity, wherein applying the pigmentable waterborne paint composition, once pigmented with the one or more proportioned paint pigments, over the preparatory waterborne paint composition on the vinyl panels meets the target reflectivity indicator at the target color; and 
 
 send instructions, through the network interface module to the remote device, comprising the application procedure for painting the vinyl panels at the target color while preventing vinyl warping. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The expert system of  claim 1 , wherein the non-transitory memory comprises
 one or more preparatory records each associated with one of at least one preparatory waterborne paint composition of predictable reflectivity; 
 a plurality of pigment records each associated with a paint pigment having a pigmentation identifier; and 
 one or more pigmentable records each associated with at least one pigmentable waterborne paint composition of predictable transmissivity once pigmented. 
 
     
     
       3. The expert system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the third set of software instructions, when executed by the processing module, further determine that the target reflectivity indicator for the vinyl panels once painted the target color is met by application of a self-standing pigmentable waterborne paint composition considering corresponding predictable reflectivity; and 
 the fourth set of software instructions, when executed by the processing module, compute the application procedure that identifies:
 the self-standing pigmentable waterborne paint composition; and 
 the one or more proportioned paint pigments to achieve the target color, wherein applying the self-standing pigmentable waterborne paint composition, once pigmented with the one or more proportioned paint pigments, meets the target reflectivity indicator for the vinyl panels at the target color. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The expert system of  claim 3 , wherein the non-transitory memory further comprises one or more self-standing pigmentable records each associated with at least one self-standing pigmentable waterborne paint composition. 
     
     
       5. The expert system of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness indicator for the plurality of vinyl panels is a thickness value measured physically at the site, evaluated visually at the site, obtained from a default thickness indicator associated with the paint application site, determined considering a current color of the vinyl panels or determined considering an unpainted-color of the vinyl panels. 
     
     
       6. The expert system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fifth set of software instructions, stored in the non-transitory memory, the fifth set of software instructions, when executed by the processing module, obtain surface characteristics for the vinyl panels comprising sun position data for geographical coordinates of the painting site and geographical alignment value of the vinyl panels, wherein computing the target reflectivity indicator is further based on the surface characteristics. 
     
     
       7. The expert system of  claim 6 , further comprising a sixth set of software instructions, stored in the non-transitory memory, the sixth set of software instructions, when executed by the processing module, compute an adjustment procedure for adjusting one or more of the waterborne paint compositions using one or more chemical compounds. 
     
     
       8. The expert system of  claim 7 , wherein computing the adjustment procedure further comprises computing an expected surface temperature value of the vinyl panels at an expected time of application. 
     
     
       9. The expert system of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness indicator provides a range thickness value for thicknesses of one or more of the vinyl panels and wherein computing the target reflectivity indicator further comprises matching the range thickness value with an acceptable reflectivity range value. 
     
     
       10. The expert system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more proportioned pigments are each identified with a relative value established in relation to the pigmentable waterborne paint composition or the self-standing pigmentable waterborne paint composition. 
     
     
       11. The expert system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more proportioned pigments are each identified with an absolute volumetric value established in relation to a volume of a container of the pigmentable waterborne paint composition or the self-standing pigmentable waterborne paint composition. 
     
     
       12. The expert system of  claim 1 , wherein the sets of software instructions allow for computing of a second application procedure, different from the application procedure, for a second set of vinyl panels. 
     
     
       13. A method for computing an application procedure for painting vinyl panels a target color at a paint application site while preventing vinyl warping, the method comprising:
 at a processing module of an expert system, obtaining a thickness indicator of the vinyl panels to be painted at the paint application site considering a request received from a remote device for the application procedure; 
 computing, at the processing module of the expert system, based on the thickness indicator and the target color for the vinyl panels, a target reflectivity indicator for the vinyl panels once painted for preventing vinyl warping; 
 determining, at the processing module of the expert system, that the target reflectivity indicator for the vinyl panels once painted the target color is met by application of multiple paint layers of different paint compositions;—upon determination that the target color is met by application of the multiple paint layers:
 computing, at the processing module of the expert system, the application procedure that identifies:
 a pigmentable waterborne paint composition; 
 one or more proportioned paint pigments to achieve the target color; 
 a preparatory waterborne paint composition considering a corresponding predictable reflectivity, wherein applying the pigmentable waterborne paint composition, once pigmented with the one or more proportioned paint pigments, over the preparatory waterborne paint composition meets the target reflectivity indicator for the vinyl panels at the target color; and 
 
 sending instructions, through a network interface module to the remote device, comprising the application procedure for painting the vinyl panels at the target color while preventing vinyl warping. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 determining at the processing module that the target reflectivity indicator for the vinyl panels once painted the target color is met by application of a self-standing pigmentable waterborne paint composition considering corresponding predictable reflectivity; and 
 upon determination that the target reflectivity indicator at the target color is met by application of the self-standing pigmentable waterborne paint composition, computing the application procedure that identifies:
 the self-standing pigmentable waterborne paint composition; and 
 the one or more proportioned paint pigments to achieve the target color, wherein applying the self-standing pigmentable waterborne paint composition, once pigmented with the one or more proportioned paint pigments, meets the target reflectivity indicator for the vinyl panels at the target color. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the thickness indicator for the plurality of vinyl panels is a thickness value measured physically at the site, evaluated visually at the site, obtained from a default thickness indicator associated with the paint application site, determined considering a current color of the vinyl panels and/or determined considering an unpainted-color of the vinyl panels. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising obtaining surface characteristics for the vinyl panels comprising sun position data for geographical coordinates of the painting site and geographical alignment value of the vinyl panels, wherein computing the target reflectivity indicator is further based on the surface characteristics. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising computing an adjustment procedure for adjusting one or more of the waterborne paint compositions using one or more chemical compounds. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein computing the adjustment procedure further comprises computing an expected surface temperature value of the vinyl panels at an expected time of application. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the thickness indicator provides a range thickness value for thicknesses of one or more of the vinyl panels and wherein computing the target reflectivity indicator further comprises matching the range thickness value with an acceptable reflectivity range value. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more proportioned pigments are each identified with a relative value established in relation to the pigmentable waterborne paint composition or the self-standing pigmentable waterborne paint composition. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more proportioned pigments are each identified with an absolute volumetric value established in relation to a volume of a container of the pigmentable waterborne paint composition or the self-standing pigmentable waterborne paint composition. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising computing a second application procedure, different from the application procedure, for a second set of vinyl panels.